Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
BURKET - He wasn't expecting it at all. And that was the idea.
Wednesday, Burket Fire Department Capt. Claude Swick was presented with a bronze ax for his 39 years of service to the department, 29 years of which he served as captain. The handle of the ax has his name engraved on it.
"We want to let him know how much he means to us," said Kevin McSherry as he presented the ax to Swick. "He's always there, thick or thin. Whenever you're down, he's always there."
Swick, with his eyes tearing up, accepted the ax from all the men of the fire department. "I wish to thank whoever thought of this. It's an honor for me, gentlemen," he said.
Before joining the fire department in 1961, Swick said, he "just helped out" for two years because the department was short on manpower. His sons, who were already on the fire department, convinced him to join.
He said, "We didn't have as good equipment as we have now. We weren't trained as well as we are now."
"I just try to be a good fireman," Swick said. "(They're) a good group to work with. You can't beat a good bunch of firemen."
At one time, Swick said, his six sons served "on the fire department beside me." His family has more than 145 years in the fire service combined, he said.
His son Max has only one word for his father - "brave."
Fern, his wife of 64 years, said they've had "a lot of good years" together.
How long does Swick plan to continue to serve?
"I'd like to get 40 (years). If it feels good, I'll go longer," he said. Good health, he said, has been the key to his longevity. "I've been healthy all my life."
Swick's son, Frank, has served on the fire department for 41 years. "All my brothers joined before I did. We talked (Dad) into joining." Working under his father is something he said he wouldn't have any other way.
Four generations of the Swick family were present to congratulate Claude on his accomplishment. And while the youngest generation has yet to serve in the fire department, Claude's grandson, Isaiah Rensberger, has been with the North Webster Fire Department for four to five years.
"It would be tough (to serve as long as my grandfather)," Rensberger said. "(I'm) really proud of him."
He said he got into the fire service because of his family, and "it's pretty exciting."
